The Killing Star

By: George Zebrowski, Charles Pellegrino

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The opening chapter of an incredible adventure that includes the destruction of Earth by ten thousand relativistic bombs launched by an alien race. This science fiction thriller follows the desperate struggles of the remnants of humankind to survive in a hostile universe.

©1995 Charles Pellegrino and George Zebrowski (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Good book, but reads more like a thought experimen

The narrator was great. Overall the story was ok. It seemed more like a thought experiment than a story. I was interested in the last quarter of the book and wished the authors had gone into more detail about the alien race.

Easily Overlooked Classic

By far, this one was one of the gloomier peeks into what the universe has in store. The story melts a little into worldbuilding, but the narrative remains strong.

like a short version of the dark forest

pretty good if you like thus look at the 3 body problem series by cixin

Enjoyable Listen

Not what I was expecting, which isn’t a bad thing. Just beware that this particular man vs. alien story is less phew-phew-phew and more chin stroking musefest.

Thought provoking

So many interesting ideas. Some may seem jaded since they have been picked up by more recent SF literature/movies. A compelling listen nonetheless

Life's a B&@!%

I'm never going to get folded like that period, I can agree with both sides of the conflict although it's really funny the reason used. 🤣

Worth your time

This was an outstanding book. I really enjoyed reading it or should I say listening to it because it is “hard” science-fiction. They were a few things that I thought did not work such as flying into a star or a gas giant and being able to escape the gravitational force to get out. I thought that was difficult to believe. There are other areas that I’m sure you’ll figure out. It was really a clever novel. I was surprised at the science 27 years ago when it was written the writer must have really been on his game.

Compelling!

Wow. This book certainly asks some interesting questions. I wasn't taken by the theological parts towards the end but I still enjoyed the commentary. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the 'Dark Forest' theory of the Universe and life.

Very good performance as well.

is there more

if you liked the three body problem then you will like this. It has a similar feel.

A good book then and a better one now

I recall reading A Killing Star back in the mid 90s right after it first came out. Looking back I foubd it interesting then, an insightful "What of..." look at what could now be considered the near future.
Now more than 25 years later and after the development of many of the technology this book featured, it makes me wonder if this hard science fiction tale wasn't a harbinger for the late Steven Hawkings comments about boot announcing our presence to local space. One could speculate he might have read this book and them thought on it long and hard before coming to his own conclusions.
Regardless I would recommend this read for anyone who loves hard sci fi and doesn't mind a philosophy take tied in.